Official NHL Free Agent Frenzy Thread (B. Richards Update!)

[dmaksymyshyn]

I actually like the Leafs signing Tim Connolly as I have always liked him as a player. Not sure what is up with Buffalo fans hating him so much? Someone explain that to me. I think with this move the Leafs have 2 solid scoring lines assuming they get a deal done with MacArthur. Kessel, Connolly, and Lupul as 1 line and Kulemin, Grabovski, and MacArthur line 2. Then you have Kadri, Bozak, Armstrong, Lombardi, and others (not sure who will be left of Brown, Boyce, Orr, Crabb, Hanson, etc).

Leafs D is looking good with Phanuef, Schenn, Liles, Franson, Gunnarson, Aulie, Komi (well that isn't so good).

A lot of it has to do with the $$$ vs the production. Throw in he is one bump (and I mean bump cause he is made of glass) away from retirement. He won't give you a full season. Never has been the same player since 05-06 when he was knocked out of the playoffs.

Toronto overpaid for him. I think the overall sentiment in Buffalo was bye-bye, but realistically, for 1mil a season, ok, 3rd line center, kill penalties, 10 min a game, sure. 2 years for 9.5? Yikes...Laughable.

[CSSports]

Congrats to the Rangers for getting Richards.....
Heard Kings made a pretty good pitch for him but I guess he decided against it...

[oilfan10]

Zenon Konopka to the Ottawa Senators- 1 year/$700K

Andrew Ladd re-signs with the Winnipeg Jets-5 years/$22 million total/$4.4 cap hit

Ladd breakdown-1st Year: $4 million, years 2-5: $4.5 million per year

[RGM81]

Oh noes - HI/O will be going ballistic over "losing" Konopka to a division rival. They were really high on him for some reason.

Good signing for the Jets' captain.

[flemingc04]

Wow, the NE division just got even tougher with Konopka in Ottawa. I kind of wanted to see him in Toronto, but we also have many 3rd and 4th line centremen.

Good signing with Ladd in Winnipeg. Cheaper than I was kind of thinking it would be since they were going to arbitration and he was holding out.

Jeff Marek is reporting that Ben Bishop has resigned with St. Louis (1 year, 2 way deal).

[marekschwarz33]

The Blues have re-signed Ben Bishop and have also signed center Scott Nichol to a one year deal.

[flemingc04]

Thomas Kaberle signs with Carolina!
Darren Dreger: Tomas Kaberle agrees to 3 yr, $12.75 deal with Carolina!! Done.

Not that surprising to me since his brother Frantisek played there. With Kaberle wanting to be a life-long Leaf, he always seemed like he would be the cautious type in where he playes. His brother probably helped him make the decision by letting him know what the players, staff, fans, and Raleigh area was like.

[flemingc04]

I should also add that Kaberle is now reunited with Paul Maurice, Tim Brent, and Alexei Ponikarovsky...which probably also had to do with his decision.

[Wickabee]

Re: Kaberle
Who cares

[flemingc04]

Kaberle was well liked among Toronto fans. I think I can speak for most or all Toronto fans saying that we wish him nothing but the best! He was a class act on and off the ice when he was with the Leafs and when I once met him, he proved just that.